If the only tool you have is a hammer, you tend to see every problem as a nail. – Abraham Maslow

Universal Design for Learning

One of my favorite planning tools is this UDL (Universal Design for Learning) wheel. Even though all good teachers do these things in their lessons all the time, my district is requiring us to list the specific UDL principles and learning supports in each of our lessons, so this is a convenient way for me to access them.

According to www.cast.org “Universal Design for Learning is a set of principles for curriculum development that give all individuals equal opportunities to learn. UDL provides a blueprint for creating instructional goals, methods, materials, and assessments that work for everyone–not a single, one-size-fits-all solution but rather flexible approaches that can be customized and adjusted for individual needs.”

The wheel can be found at http://www.udlwheel.mdonlinegrants.org/. Click the arrows to the right or left of the viewing window to rotate the wheel to the desired Principle of UDL. Principle 1 is to Provide Multiple Means of Representation (presenting content in a variety of ways). Principle 2 is Provide Multiple Means of Expression (how students express what they know). Principle 3 is Provide Multiple Means of Engagement (how students are engaged and how they interact with the content).